Effect of sleep position on transcutaneous oxygen tension in SIDS siblings

Abstract To assess the influence of sleep position in sudden infant death syndrome siblings (SIDSS), we have studied 60 healthy SIDSS between the 1st and 3 + 4th month of life polygraphically. Infants were grouped according to postnatal age (1st, 2nd and 3 + 4th month) and sleep position (supine and prone). Transcutaneous oxygen tension (tCPO 2 ) was continuously recorded and studied in each sleep state (active (AS) and quiet sleep (QS)) during the 1st and 2nd sleep cycle. No statistical difference could be found in tCPO 2 levels as regards different sleep positions, postnatal ages (except for AS during the 2nd sleep cycle in prone and supine positions: 3 + 4th month > 2nd month, P AS, P QS, P 2 variability was found to be significantly higher in AS as compared to QS (P 2 levels in SIDSS.